Guess who is coaching Tball this year?

[sawyerthedestroyer]

I signed my kid up in early April for Tball. I've been pestering the city Parks & Rec for a couple of weeks about getting dates and times for practices and games and they kept putting me off. Irritating, but I've come to expect nothing more from them.

They called me today at four o'clock. The coach for my kid's team fell off the face of the earth and they need someone to step in and coach, would my husband be willing to do it? It pretty much came down to if we didn't volunteer to coach there wouldn't be a team (WTAF) for these kids. So yeah, we're going to do it. And the first practice is tomorrow. Tomorrow. And the parents hadn't been called yet.

So I had to leave work early to get the stupid paperwork and call all of the parents to let them know what's going on and OMG. You guys. I can't rip into the Parks & Rec people because my kid likes sports and burning bridges and all that, but damn, I want to light a match right now.

Any tips for coaching four year olds?

[keh2oblue]

First rule...have fun; 2nd rule...no hitting your teammates with bats or balls.

Teach basics-catching, throwing, hitting, and LOTS of running the bases

Google fun Tball drills and make a snack schedule.
Signed,
She who was roped into coaching soccer this spring

[pierogigirl]

Don't let the kids have a bat unless they are at bat.

[revolution]

Yay!

Make sure they have fun!

They will allllll go after the balls when they are hit. Like all of them. Dd's tball coach finally drew chalk lines on the field (like from home up between 2nd and 3rd and the home to 2nd and then home to between 1st and 2nd) so the kids all had an alley they were allowed to go after the ball in. It helped a lot.

Go out for ice cream at the end of the season.

Have fun!

Teach them to cheer for their teammates. A simple "let's go Stacey, let's go" will do. They can learn kids names and pay attention to the game. Kind of

Have fun!

[CrazyLucky]

First of all, why did they ask if your H would do it? F that. I coach my son's Tball team and I can Chase 3 and 4 year olds around a field just as well as any dad can.

Tips:
1) My Rec program gave me 2 balls and one bat. Try to purchase at least a few more balls.
2) if you can get another parent to help, separate into two groups to keep the kids busier.
3) break everything down into steps they can remember. For throwing, I tell them put their thumb on the bottom of the ball, three fingers on top (some need four fingers). Hold the ball behind their ear, making an L with their arm. Take a small step towards the target with their glove hand and throw. It seems like a lot of steps, but they seem to do better when I break it down.
4) Try to scrimmage. This will give you the chance to teach them which way to run. because at least 50% will not know where to run.
5) Don't bother with fly ball catching.
6) Have fun. if you can get them to bat correctly, throw correctly, understand the concept of throwing to first base, and get them to run the bases correctly, you have done a great job.
7) Most important, get parents to sign up for snacks for each game. That's the best part!

Let me know if you have specific questions. It's been a lot of fun.